Friendship Day: How her BFF helped this Sathyabhama student bounce back from an acid attack

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With 35 per cent burns, Sanno contemplated ending her existence many times

It was 2014. Sanno Sonkar was then a free-spirited 18-year-old, straight out of school. Life was good and things were normal and her dream was to touch the sky. Until one day, a few goons hired by her relatives who had a tiff with her father tried to kill her spirit. Hot acid was thrown on Sanno one day, while she was coming back from the fields.

But all that's history. Four years down the line, Sanno is a final year Visual Communication student in Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai. She has learned to dream again and the scars don't bother her again, all thanks to Vishal Sonkar, Sanno's best friend from her hometown Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh.

I didn't know what an acid attack was until it happened to me. I was scared and so were my parents. I even doubted if I'll be able to survive

Sanno Sonkar

Relatives showered fake sympathies and concerns and her parents didn't know how to help out a daughter with a burned face, forehead and arms. "Everyone left me, but Vishal stood firmly beside me. He accompanied me during hospital visits and got me medicines. Even when I was in need of blood, he donated his blood," she says.

With 35 per cent burns, Sanno contemplated ending her existence many times. But Vishal couldn't let his best friend down."He always told me that whatever had to happen has happened, but I shouldn't lose hope and must be brave. He assured me that these scars on my face didn't matter at all and I am still beautiful. He encouraged me to nurture my hopes and dreams and be brace," she says.

If not for Vishal, Sanno cannot imagine how life would have turned out. "He was the only one outside my immediate family who supported me. He kept on telling me that he's there forever. So was his family. They even helped me out when I was in need of money for my treatment," she says.

She also recalls her sister's wedding, when the entire family was busy, Vishal was the only one who sat by her side and helped her out with her medicines. "When everyone turned me down, he was the only one to help out. I felt really good to have him in my life. I really hope everyone has a friend like him," she says, counting days to go back home and meet her parents and Vishal.